Senedd Agrees Visitor Levy for Wales

by · July 11, 2025

The Senedd has voted to give councils the choice to introduce a small visitor levy on overnight stays to raise and reinvest vital funding into local tourism.

The new law establishes the first local tax designed and legislated for in Wales.

Councils will now have the option to introduce a levy on overnight stays, which will raise money which can be re-invested in tourism-related expenses – such as improving toilets, footpaths, beaches, visitor centres and activities.

Key elements include:

  • Giving local authorities the choice to introduce a visitor levy in their area, but only after consulting with their local communities.
  • Ensuring all funds raised are retained and reinvested back into the local area to support tourism.
  • The levy is set at 75p per person per night for adults staying in hostels and campsites and at £1.30 per person per night for all visitors staying in other types of accommodation.
  • Under-18s are exempt from paying the levy when staying in hostels or campsites.
  • 2027 is the earliest possible introduction date.

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Nigel Summerley

Nigel Summerley retired from The Oldie magazine to return to freelance journalism. He previously held executive staff jobs at the London Evening Standard, The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and the Daily Express before freelancing for 20 years for newspapers including The Times, The Sunday Times, The Independent, The Guardian and the ‘i’ paper, plus a wide range of magazines. He continues to write about music, travel and health, to freelance for the Financial Times and The Oldie magazine, and to edit selected books. He blogs at www.nigel-summerley.blogspot.com.

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